Education

In this year's trip to the market, the Washington state legislature is faced with a significant challenge. To understand that challenge we must first fall back to the state constitution where the "founding fathers" sought to explain the reason for wanting to create a state and be allowed to share in the tax money that Washington DC had previously claimed, when what was to become Washington state was clearly an uncontested part of the United States. As a part of the explanation, they included in their constitution of the state of Washington our forebears thought that a fundamental of the duties of the new state would be education. Specifically, ARTICLE IX – EDUCATION: SECTION 1 PREAMBLE. “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex.” Read more

In preparation for the 2017 Legislative Session, it’s important that we learn something about what the citizens of Washington State want done this year. A new poll released by Elway Polls, Wed., Jan. 4, 2017 gives us some insight into that. I have found Elway Polls to be among the most accurate in predicting election outcomes from their voter focus groups, so I place great store by the data Elway shares. Read more

After working as the band director at a charter school in Colorado for five years, and writing my master’s thesis on the structures and challenges for the performing arts in charter schools, I simply urge everyone to consider the research out there. NCSPE, CREDO, NCEO, and CRPE have generated a broad range of research results on charter schools. On the whole, the research suggests that while charters are sometimes not as terrible as opponents suggest, many models have not produced the results that proponents have promised. Some models have demonstrated promising results and may be worth replicating. Read more

Have you ever wanted to study accounting? Brush up your algebra? Learn Spanish or Chinese? One of the best-kept secrets in Pierce County is the Access Program at the University of Washington, Tacoma. Through this program, citizens over 60 years of age can enroll in any course offered for a mere $5.00! There is, however, an additional 'technology fee', depending upon the course taken. For most, it appears to be $20. You've paid property taxes and sales taxes for years in Washington State, and here is a way Olympia has found to give something back.

Diane Ravitch addresses what she calls “the hoax of privatization” on the American educational system. She details the players in the privatization process, how they have mounted an extensive media campaign to gain a foothold into the educational system and how they have misused the facts to convince the American people that there is a crisis in the educational system. Contrary to their media campaign rhetoric, test scores in reading and mathematics have been increasing steadily and significantly over the past 40 years when measured by a uniform test. Ravitch analyzes the arguments for privatizing education, finds them lacking and goes on to explain how privatization accompanied by testing is destructive of democratic society. The reader will want to pay close attention to what is unfolding in Pierce County and Washington State as a result of Initiative 1240.

Over a quarter century ago I was one of a small group that formed a statewide steering committee to bring charter schools to Washington. That was then and now a much different notion of charter schools is found in the current I-1240. I believe public school education should be fixed, but I can wait a very long time before I again work on creating charter schools in Washington State. "It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders." (Article IX, Section 1 of the Washington State Constitution) It would be a mistake to dilute that responsibility with the version of school privatization of what are now public schools proposed in I-1240. Read more

Bully is a new Weinstein film, a documentary about bullying in the schools. It is currently showing at the Grand Cinema and has prompted a lot of interest among political leaders and educators in the Tacoma Public Schools. The film focuses on the children targeted by bullies. Some are targeted because of their disabilities, some because of sexual orientation, and some for unexplained reasons. The results are suicide, bringing a weapon on the school bus, leaving town, and acquiescence. The film should be required viewing for all parents and most children. In fact, the Tacoma Public Schools is proactive in confronting bullying head on with immediate action and education. As part of their proactive approach, Bernadette Ray, Assistant Director of Student Life for Tacoma Schools, led a discussion following the 2:05 p.m. showing of Bully at the Grand Cinema Saturday, the fifth of May. The roughly 20 attendees found out a lot from each other and a lot about the school district’s approach. Read more